NEW ZEALAND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

57

A.—No. I.

instances ; and that if tranquillity is restored with a reasonable prospect of permanence, and if these prisoners behave well, a mitigation of their sentence will be recommended. No remark need be made on the case of Wi Tamarano, sentenced to death without hope of commutation as having been guilty of cruel murders, for he strangled himself in gaol, and a Coroner's Jury returned a verdict of felo de se. His Excellency the Governor expressed his concurrence with the advice of the Council, and directed the necessary orders herein to be issued accordingly. And the Council adjourned. Passed the Council the 17th dajr of November, 1869, at Wellington, and at Auckland the 15th day November, 1869. Eorster Goring, Clerk of the Executive Council.

No. 31. Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir G. E. Bowen, G.C.M.G., to the . Eight Hon. Earl Gbanville, K.G. (No. 151.) Government House, Auckland, My Lord, — New Zealand, 25th November, 1869. I have the honor to transmit herewith the customary monthly report from the Secretary for Defence and Native Affairs. 2. Mr. McLean speaks modestly of the results of his owm great personal influence with the Natives; and, as we can never be quite sure of the conduct which so impulsive a race as the Maoris may pursue from time to time, I have never allowed my opinions or reports to be coloured by the ever-varying phases of Colonial feeling, or to assume either a sanguine or a despondent tone. Still, all those who are well acquainted with the Natives, appear to agree that this month's mail (which leaves Auckland to-day) will take home the best news that has reached England from New Zealand during the last ten years. 3. It will be remembered that, in my general report of the 7th December, 1868, I wrote as follows : —" It appears to be very generally agreed, that since " the authority of the Crown and of the Law was not established throughout the " interior of this country, while there was an English army of above ten thousand " men in New Zealand, the attitude of the Colonial Authorities towards Tawhiao " and his adherents must, and ought to be, in the main, defensive; that it is " at once more politic and more humane to outlive the King movement than "to endeavour to suppress it by the strong hand; that the turbulent Natives "should receive every encouragement to live peaceably; but that murderous " onslaughts, whether on the Europeans or on the friendly Maoris, should be " punished with the rigour necessary to prevent a recurrence of unprovoked *' aggressions Many of the leading politicians of New Zealand are " convinced that the King movement, in its early stages, might have been made " an instrument for ' elevating the Native race, by the introduction of institutions " ' subordinate to and in harmony with the European government of the Colony.' " It has been suggested that a Native Erovince might have been created, to " be ruled like the territories of the semi-independent Eajahs in India, nominally *' by a great Maori chief, but really by the advice and influence of a British " Besident or Commissioner." Again, in my subsequent report of the 7th January ultimo, I added: —" In common with all the leading men of this ■" country, I am convinced that it is of vital importance to endeavour to come to " a peaceful understanding, not inconsistent with the sovereignty of the Queen, " with the so-called ' Maori King,' by which title his adherents appear to " mean nothing more than a great chieftain and magistrate, analogous to the " semi-independent Eajahs of British India. All feel that it would have been " more satisfactory if Tawhiao could have been brought to submission while there " was in New Zealand, in addition to the Colonial Eorces, an army of ten " thousand (10,000) British soldiers; but ail agree that, since his conquest " was found impracticable then, it would be worse than folly to attempt it now "by the unaided efforts of the Colonial Eorces alone. Accordingly, in common " with my Eesponsible Advisers, I have readily taken advantage of an oppor- " tunity which recently presented itself for opening what may, perhaps, prove " a friendly communication with Tawhiao At all events, the 15

Vide p. 1.